On one hand, coach Chris Holtmann pointed to nine wins in 13 games when the nonconference portion of Ohio State's schedule ended last weekend.

“I feel good about it,” he said. “I think our guys feel good about it.”

On the other hand, the fresh memory of how his guys had just closed out that segment of the season nagged him. Against a Miami University team revved for its shot at the state's Big Ten flagship, the Buckeyes lollygagged through the first half, zoomed to a 17-point lead in the first six minutes of the second, then watched it shrink to three before recovering to win by 13.

Holtmann said later that he hadn't liked how the team had practiced after returning from a brief Christmas break, and that lack of purpose carried over.

“I've had people say that to me: 'How does your team respond to adversity? How tough is your group?' ” he said. “We've got to answer...

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